Work holder



Dec. 30, 1941. L. T, NEWELI. 2,268,460

WORK HOLDER Filed Feb. 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H INVENTOR LAW ENCE T. EWELL By aw, iamfiw ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1941. T. NEWELL WORK HOLDER Filed Feb. I,' 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1941. V L. T. NEWELL 2,268,460

I WORK HOLDER Filed Feb. 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 9 LAWREhtgE II/WELL w By W an! ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1941. L. T. NEWELL WORK HOLDER F'iied Feb. 1, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I E 3 n INVENTOR IZN L wmmc: EW LL.

ATTORN KY5 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 WORK HOLDER Lawrence T. Newell, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Unipress Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application February 1, 1938, Serial No. 188,025

11 Claims. 7 (01. 38-12) This invention relates to pressing machines and has iorits object the provision of a particularly simple work holder for objects being pressed. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a tailband holder for a shirt press.

In presses of this character it is frequently desirable to use the press without the work holder, as when pressing a small section of a shirt. When the press is so used it is desirable to have the work holder removed a substantial distance from the press buck so as not to interfere with the Work being pressed. It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a work holder which may be traversed to an out of the way position when not in use, together with means for bringing the work holder into a position to be used.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanism which will automatically keep the Work holder in an operative position or in a position above the work Where it may be reached by the operator of the machine and drawn into a work holding position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism for sustaining the work holder in any position in which it is placed by the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an interacting connection between the pressing machine and the Work holder whereby the latter will be automatically lifted from the work when the pressing machine opens.

Other objects and features of the invention are those inherent and suggested by the drawings, and those inherent and suggested by the embodiments of the invention described hereinafter.

In the description hereinafter given, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent corresponding parts in all views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pressing machine, partially broken away and sectioned, showing the work holder in work engaging position but with the presser head raised.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine, partially broken away and sectioned, showing the work holder in the raised position and traversed to a position remote from the machine.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine, partially broken away and sectioned, showing the press open and the work holder raised.

Figure 4 is a partial view side elevation showing the press closed and the work holder in positlon.

Figure 5 is a plan view partly in section along the line 55 of Figure 1, showing the lower pressing element or buck of the machine, and. the work holding lement in place across the work on the buck.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the work holder mounting bracket and operating cylinder along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail in section of the work holder, along the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail in section of the work holder along the line 88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail partly in section of the valve mechanism.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail partly in section along the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

The present invention is applied to laundry and garment presses of the type in which a pair of relatively movable pressing elements are brought into and out of engagement with each other for the pressing of objects placed therebetween. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the pressing machine comprises a framework generally designated l, consisting of a bed frame 2, columns 3, and top members 4, on which is mounted stationary pressing buck generally designated 5, and a pressing arm 6 which carries the movable pressing element I.

The pressing arm is pivoted to the frame at 8 in such a manner that when the pressing arm is moved, movable pressing element 1 will be brought into engagement with the buck as shown in Figure 4.

The operating mechanism has not been illustrated in the press shown herein, since it forms no part of the invention.

The garment holder illustrated herein comprises a supporting member generally designated Ill, having a vertically curved section H and a front grip section l2, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5. The member I0 is supported on bracket 13 which is' slidably mounted upon cylinder [4, as shown in the sectional view, Figure 6.

The cylinder I4 is covered throughout its length and throughout its front half by a smooth guard I5 of semi-circular cross-section, as shown in Figures 6 and 8. The guard is shaped so as to fit neatly into a recessed shoulder I6 of bracket l3 to which it is attached by means of screws H. The left end of the guard I5 is attached to a disk member 18 by means of screws l9, as shown in Figure 6, and disk I8 is in turn attached by means of nut 2| to the protruding end of piston rod 20.

The piston rod, piston 22, guard l5 and bracket l3 are shown in the retracted position in Figure 6 which is the position they assume when the guard I is in the out of the way position with respect to buck and pressing head 1, shown in full lines in Figure 2. The movement of piston rod and guard III to the aforesaid retracted position is effected by means of a spring 23 which is mounted on piston rod 28.

The cylinder I4 i mounted upon plate 24 by means of straps 25, and the entire assembly is rigidly fixed on the rear column 3 by means of bolts 26. The cylinder I4 is provided with a stop 28, as shown in Figure 2, against which the left end of bracket |3 engages when the garment engagin assembly is moved to the left.

The member ID carries a curved garment engaging tape between the front grip section l2 and ear 3| of the guard 5, as shown in Figure 3.

Th cylinder I4 is provided with a stationary key 32 which is preferably a separate member sweated into the keyway 33 in the wall of cylinder l4. The bracket I3 is formed with a corresponding milled key slot 34 of such dimensions that the bracket will slide freely upon the cylinder and key. The key acts to prevent rotation of bracket l3 on cylinder |4 except at such portions of the cylinder as the key is omitted. The key extends from point 35 at the right end of the cylinder to the point 36, as shown in Figure 6, and between these points bracket I3 is prevented from rotating when moving on cylinder l4. When bracket l3 has moved to the left of point 36, as shown in Figure 2, rotation is permitted within the limits defined by shoulders 31 and 38 on the right end of the bracket l3 (shown in Figure 2) which engage the sides of the key as the bracket is rotated. The shoulder 38 limits the rotational movement of bracket |3in the guardlifting direction. Shoulder 31 is so located that the movement of work engagin member 30 is not restricted.

The bracket I3 is also provided with an integrally formed arm 40 which has cam slot 4| therein, which is engaged by roller 42 on the upper end of a pivoted pendulum assembly generally designated 43.

The pendulum bar 43 consists of a vertical section 44 which is carried at the left end of T- head 45 which is in turn formed on the upper end of stem 46. The stem is pivoted at point 41 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and the entire assembly, consisting of stem 46, T-head 45, and vertical section 44 which carries roller 42, moves about 41 as a pivot. The lower end of stem 46 of the pendulum assembly 43 is bifurcated at 48 and swings along an arcuately shaped guide 49. The movement of stem 46 is limited by stop bolt 50 and adjustable stop screw 5| at the ends of bracket 49.

The T-head 43 of the pendulum assembly is straddled by a biasing arrangement generally designated 55, which consists of a pair of depending straps 56 and 57 which carry roller 58 between them at their upper ends, and springs 5959 which serve to draw straps 56 and 51 down. The movement of the biasing arrangement along T-head 45 is limited at the left by vertical section 44 of the pendulum assembly 43, as shown in Figure 3, and at the right by a through bolt 68, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The biasing arrangement serves to hold the pendulum assembly in its limiting positions until moved from that position through the inter-action of cam slot 4| upon roller 42. It will be noted that cam slot 4| is curved so as always to 90. engages when the presser arm opens.

start roller 42 to the left when the press opens.

The cylinder is provided with a supply pipe 63 which communicates with an operator-controlled valve which is generally designated 64, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The valve arrangement is shown in detail in Figures 9 and 10 and consists of a valve body 65 and a removable valve head 66 which is attached to the valve body by means of bolts 61. The valve body 65 carries a poppettype valve, generally designated 68, having a head 69, a thin stem portion 10 adjacent thereto, and an enlarged stem portion The valve 68 is also provided with a valve spring 12 which serves to seat head 69 tightly against valve seat 13 and thereby prevents the passage of air or other motive fluid from supply pipe 14 through the valve to connecting pipe 63. The valve body is provided with an exhaust port 15 which is positioned so as to be covered by enlarged stem portion II when the valve 68 is moved to open position Line 63 between valve 64 and cylinder l4 may, if desired, be provided with 'a regulating valve 16 so as to meter the flow of motive fluid therethrough. The exhaust port 15 may also be provided with a metering valve 11, if desired Metering valves 16 and TI serve to regulate the speed of movement of piston 22 and the attached assembly so as to provide a soft, smooth action in each direction.

The valve 64 is arranged to be operated by means of a foot pedal which is pivoted to the frame at point 8| and which is normally drawn upwardly by spring 82. The pedal 80 is operatively interconnected with the valve 64 by means of draw rod 83 and lever 84 which is pivoted to the frame at point 85. The lever 84 is provided with an adjusting screw 86 and lock nut 81, as shown in Figure 9.

The presser arm 6 is provided with a freely pivoted dog 90 which is arranged to intersect the upper surface of arm 48 on bracket l3 when the presser arm is in operative position, as shown in Figure 4. The upper part of arm 48 is provided with an upwardly turned tip 9| with which dog This position is shown in dotted lines .in Figure 4. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained under operation.

As shown in Figure 5,, the press is also provided with a collarband engaging device generally designated 92 by which collar 93 of shirt 94 is positioned on the press. The collarband device 92 may be of any approved type, and forms no part of the present invention.

Operation During operation of the press an operator arranges a shirt on buck 5 in such a positon that the front of the shirt overlies the buck, as shown in Figure 5. Collarband engaging device 92 is then moved to a position such that the collar 93 is tensioned to the left, as shown in Figure 5. During this time the tailband holder is positioned at the out of the way position to the right, as

shown in Figure 2, in which position the engaging member 301s clear of the presser head 1 and buck 5. It will also be noted that in this position the garment supporting member 10 is raised, as shown in Figure 3, and is held in this position by key 32 and slot 34.

After the shirt has been arranged upon buck 5 and thecollarband positioned by means of device 92, foot pedal 88 is depressed, whereupon air is admitted to cylinder l4 by means of line 14, valve 64 and line 63. Air under pressure thereupon enters the cylinder I4 and moves piston 22 and piston rod to the left against spring 23, as shown in Figure 6, until the left edge of bracket |3 strikes stop 28.

The movement of piston rod 22 is communicated to bracket |3 by means of cover member l5, and the bracket |3 the member ID and garment engaging member 3|] are accordingly drawn from the right, as shown in Figure 2 to the-left until they reach the dotted line position, at which time garment engaging member 30 overlies the tail section 95 of shirt 94. It will be noted that cam slot 4| of arm 49 at this time moves into line with roller 42. This is facilitated due to the fact that the slot 4| is considerably wider than the diameter of roller 42 and hence afi'ords clearance around the roller, as shown in Figure 3.

The operator of the press then grasps grip section I2 and draws the garment engaging member 30 downwardly until it overlies and tightly engages tail section 95 of the shirt. It will be noted that bracket I3 is clear of key 32 at this time. During this movement cam slot 4| interacts with roller 42 since these elements are now in line with each other, and pivots pendulum 43 to the position shown in Figure 1, and in so doing moves biasing arrangement 55 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4. The biasing springs 59 in the latter position tend to pivot the pendulum in a clockwise direction and thus force roller 42 along the curved portion of cam slot 4|. This action keeps the garment supporting member tightly in engagement with the work.

During this period the foot pedal 80 may be raised, if desired. The air pressure is accordingly released since the air supply is cut oif from main supply line l4, and exhaust port 15 is opened. The piston 22, piston rod 20, and assembly ||l| 3 do not move to the right even though air is exhausted from cylinder |4, since the right end of bracket I3 is held tightly in engagement with the end 36 of key 32 by springs 23. The key slot 34 of bracket |3 was moved out of registry with key 32 when the operator drew the garment engaging apparatus downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to the work engaging position shown in Figures 1 and 4. The operator may at this time slightly raise the garment engaging assembly by means of grip section l2 and the assembly will remain in the raised position against the returning force of biasing arrangement 55 because of the friction between key 32 and bracket member l3. This function permits the operator to rearrange the work before again bringing the work engaging member 30 downwardly into contact with the work.

After the work has been arranged and gripped by means of member 30 the press is closed by the usual controls (not shown), and the garment pressed. During the closing movement dog 90 rides up and over tip 9| of arm 40 and into the position shown in full lines in Figure 4. Upon the opening of the press dog 90 first engages the upper surface of arm 40 and then catches against tip 9| and thereafter as the press opens forces the work-engaging assembly ||l upwardly with the press until biasing member 55 is moved across the dead center portion of T-head 45 at which time biasing member works with the opening press and quickly moves the work-engaging member to its full open position, as determined by key 32 and shoulder 38. When the work-engaging member is in the upper position shown in Figure 3, key slot 34 again comes in registry with key 32 and since air was previously exhausted from the cylinder, piston 22, piston rod 20, guard I5 and the work-engaging assembly |0|3 all move to the right as a unit under the influence of spring 23. The rate of movement to the right may be regulated by opening or closing exhaust valve 11. It is also noted that the opening or closing of valve 16 in line 63 permits the operator to regulate the leftward movement of the assembly against spring 23.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pressing machine of the type having a pressing element mounted on a pressing arm for movement into and out of cooperating position with respect to a stationary pressing element, a work holder comprising a work-engaging member, means for mounting said member for horizontal traverse movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary pressing element, and parallel to its first position from positions in line and out of line with the path of movement of said movable pressing element and for pivotal movement in a plane at right angles to said first mentioned plane, into engagement with said stationary pressing element, means for restraining movement of said member when in engagement with said work and when out of engagement with said work, and means cooperating with said moving element of the pressing machine pivotally to lift said member from said work when the movable pressing element moves out of cooperating position with said stationary pressing element.

2. In a pressing machine of the type having a pressing element mounted on a pressing arm for movement into and out of cooperating position with respect to a stationary pressing element, a workholder comprising a work-engaging member, means for mounting said member for horizontal traverse movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary pressing element and parallel to its first position from positions in line and out of line with said pressing element and for pivotal movement in a plane at right angles to said first mentioned plane, into engagement with said element, means for restraining movement of said member when in engagement with said work and when out of engagement with said work and means on said presser arm positioned so as to engage with and pivotally move the said member out of engagement with the work as the presser arm moves to open the press.

3. In a pressing machine of the type having a pressing arm pivoted intermediate its ends for swinging movement about said pivot and having a pressing head thereon, said pressing head being thereby movable through an arcuate path into and out of engagement with a stationary pressing element, a work holder comprising a. bracket having spaced support portions, a workholding band suspended between said portions of said bracket, means for mounting said bracket for pivotal movement of said band into and out of engagement with said stationary pressing element, said spaced support portions of said bracket being joined by arcuate parts shaped to circumscribe the arcuate path of movement of said movable pressing head whereby the pressing head may move between the spaced parts of the bracket.

4. In a pressing machine of the type having a pressing arm pivoted intermediate its ends for swinging movement about said pivot and having a pressing head thereon, said pressing head being thereby movable through an arcuate path into and out of engagement with a stationarypressing element, a work holder comprising a bracket having spaced support portions, a work-holding band suspended between said portions of said bracket, means for mounting saidbracket for pivotal movement of said band into and out of engagement with said stationary pressing element, said spaced support portions of said bracket being joined by arcuate parts shaped to circumscribe the arcuate path of movement of said movable presser head, said mounting means being formed for traverse movement of said bracket into and out of line with said pressing element and head.

5. In a pressing machine of the type having a frame, a stationary pressing element carried by the frame, a pressing arm pivoted on the frame and a pressing element mounted on said arm for movement into and out of engagement with said stationary pressing element, a device for holding work placed on said stationary pressing element comprising a pneumatic cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent the presser arm pivot, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder and a bracket mounted on said cylinder and connected to said piston rod, said bracket being shaped so as to circumscribe the path of movement of said movable presser element, a workengaging member carried by'the bracket, said bracket and work-engaging member being mounted for movement in a plane parallel to the long axis of the stationary pressing element and for movement in a plane at right angles to said first mentioned plane.

6. In a pressing machine of the type having a frame, a stationary pressing element carried by the frame, a pressing arm pivoted on the frame and a pressing element mounted on said arm for movement into and out of engagement with said stationary pressing element, a device for holding work placed on said stationary pressing element comprising a pneumatic cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent the presser arm pivot and parallel thereto, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder, a bracket connected to the piston rod and shaped to circumscribe the path of movement of said movable presser element, said bracket being mounted in a plane substantially perpendicular to said piston rod for pivotal and traverse movement therewith, a work-engaging band carried by the bracket, said piston movement and position being such that the workengaging band is moved from a remote position to a position in the line of motion of the movable pressing element when the piston is energized.

7. In a pressing machine of the type having a frame, a stationarypressing element carried by the frame, a pressing arm pivoted on the frame and a pressing element mounted on said arm for movement into and out of engagement with said stationary pressing element, a device for holding work carried by said stationary pressing element, comprising a pneumatic cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent the presser arm pivot and parallel thereto, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder, a bracket connected to the piston rod and shaped to circumscribe the path of movement of said movable presser element, said bracket being mounted in a plane substantially perpendicular to said piston rod for pivotal and traverse movement therewith, a work engaging member mounted on said bracket and means to prevent pivotal movement of said bracket and to hold said bracket in a position such that the work-engaging member is in a plane above the work except when the bracket and Work-engaging member are traversed into line with said pressing elements.

8. In a pressing machine of the type having a frame, a buck mounted thereon, and a presser arm carrying a pressing head, the preser arm being pivotally mounted on the frame for movement of the head into and out of engagement with the buck, a rod mounted on the frame for pivotal movement and endwise sliding movement substantially parallel to the presser arm pivot, a bracket connected to the rod so as to be movable therewith, said bracket having portions lying in a plane generally at right angles to the axis of the rod and having opposed mountings spaced so that when the rod and bracket movable therewith are moved endwise with respect to the axis of the rod and pivotally so as to bring the bracket to the work-holding position, one of the mountings will be positioned behind the buck and the other in front of the buck, and in a plane of fixed angularity with respect to the rod, traversing the buck from front to back, and a work-holder band connected between said mountings so as to lie in said plane.

9. A device of the type set forth in claim 8 including pneumatic means for moving the rod.

10. A device of the type set forth in claim 8 including pneumatic means for moving the rod in a direction to bring the bracket adjacent the buck, and spring means for moving the rod in the opposite direction.

11. A device of the type set forth in claim 8 including means on the rod for holding it against pivotal movement except when it is moved endwise to a position to bring the work-engaging band to a position overlying the buck.

LAWRENCE T. NEWELL. 

